About

Embury Institute for Higher Education is a fully accredited private higher education institution that specialises in teacher education, specifically for pre-school and primary school teachers (Foundation and Intermediate Phases). Embury was established in 1995, and we believe that we produce some of the best trained teachers in South Africa. If you don’t believe us, read this 2015 report by the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE). Herewith some extracts from the report:

The success rates of students in [Embury’s] own programmes compare favourably with, or exceed, the various indicators of progression at public universities. In 2013, for example, the success rate of the 100 students in their first year of the B Ed programme was 90 per cent, and of the 200 students in their fourth year, 70 per cent.

The lecturers are highly motivated, professional and experienced and the classes are smaller than those of public universities, allowing for more interaction with students.

It allocates considerably more time and attention to practical teaching than public HEIs. Their student teachers alternate between a week in schools and a week at Embury for their academic studies. Final year students spend an extended period of six to eight weeks in a school. During their degree they obtain experience in different types of schools – poorly resourced, well-resourced, and special needs schools.

By all accounts, Embury has developed a good, replicable model for private delivery of high-quality ITE for ECD and FP teachers, which offers some useful insights for the expansion of private provision.

What makes us so special?

Embury’s teaching practice model is unique in South Africa. While it is common for student teachers to spend one block period in a school per year, Embury’s first-, second- and third-year students are placed in schools at regular intervals during every year of study. This sustained, immersive approach to teacher education is unique to Embury and is a key reason for its highly favourable teacher placement rate. This means that Embury students:

spend much more time in the classroom per year and therefore benefit from more teaching experience;

benefit from the theory and insight obtained in lectures, which they can then implement in the classroom the following week;

Continuing professional teacher development (CPTD)

In addition to full-time qualifications, Embury offers a variety of very popular continuing professional teacher development (CPTD) short courses that are aimed at existing teachers. These short courses cover a range of skills and qualifications, from physical education to accommodating learners with special needs. Since 2002, we have trained over 30 000 teachers through our CPTD courses!

HEAD OFFICE AND DURBAN MUSGRAVE CAMPUS

Our head office is part of our Durban Musgrave Campus, which is currently in the pretty suburb of Musgrave. Our main campus building is Embury House, which is 75 Silverton Road. About 900 student teachers study with us at our Durban Musgrave Campus every year.

Sleek and upmarket, Embury’s Waterfall Campus was built to catch the eye. Featuring state-of-the-art computer labs, lecture venues, recreational areas, and library facilities, it is located within a safe and secure environment designed to give students a first-class educational experience.

Conveniently located between Pretoria and Johannesburg, Embury’s Midrand Waterfall Campus is situated neat the Allandale off-ramp, close to the popular Mall of Africa.

Nestled in a safe and secure five-hectare plot located in the heart of Montana, Embury’s Montana Campus in Pretoria offers lush shaded gardens, beautifully designed student residences and a well-equipped onsite restaurant.

Embury’s residence is a cut above the usual student accommodation. All rooms are tastefully decorated to accommodate the individual wanting a home away from home. Every room comes equipped with its own bed, study corner, wardrobe, television, Wi-Fi access, and en-suite bathroom. Residences also offer meals, laundry services, and on-site management to ensure a welcoming and safe environment.

We aim to offer aspiring teachers from around the country opportunities to study with us, and so we have another campus opening in the Western Cape in the near future. We will keep you posted!

Distance learning is another name for correspondence learning, as it allows you to study from anywhere in the country. We offer short courses as well as a Higher Certificate in Pre-school Education (NQF Level 5) and a Diploma in Grade R Teaching (NQF 6) Grade R Diploma via distance learning.

Our distance-learning courses are supported through Embury Connect and Interact (ECI), which is our online student portal. Through ECI, students can download study material, do online tests, upload assignments, and interact with other students. We plan to offer more of our qualifications through distance learning in the near future.

A 21st-century education

All our campuses are geared towards 21st-century education. What does this mean? Well, it means:

we incorporate tried-and-tested as well as cutting-edge practices into our courses to ensure you get the best education; and

we use the latest technological equipment to help prepare you for the modern workplace

All of our lecturers and other academic staff have been carefully selected to ensure that you, the student, receive only the best tuition.

OUR HISTORY

We want you to study with us!

Apply now to get more information about options and opportunities to further your career.